Private Guitar tutoring lessons Alexandria, VA.

Blues Guitar and Bass, Rock Guitar and Bass, Chords and Chord Progressions, Basic Music Theory, Performance, Vocals, Songwriting

I've been teaching String Instruments like Guitar and Violin for Beginners and Intermediate level for many years. My students get to know all the parts of their string instruments like the guitar, from frets to strings, and learn how to tune their own instrument. After that, they will explore the fundamentals of music notation and find out how to produce clear, beautiful notes and chords

Enrolling in this course will take your musical talent to the next level. By the time you're finished, you'll be well on your way to becoming a skilled guitar player.

David enjoys teaching students from all different backgrounds and levels of proficiency. Whether you are just starting out or a virtuoso shredder in the making, he is happy to teach you! Over all, he is fairly laid back, as long as you practice. He usually combines work with reading off of the treble clef (what he likens to "eating your vegetables." You may not want to do it, but it will make you a healthier musician!) with learning more popular songs (or songs the student says they would like to learn) through tablature and chord charts, depending on the style of the song.

David is also very pro music theory. He usually incorporates music theory into the curriculum in conjunction with the material already being discussed. He is also very knowledgeable about composition/songwriting, and if the student is interested in learning more about this area, he is happy to share what he knows!

My teaching philosophy is all about self-education: not only will I teach you how to play the guitar but I will also help you learn how to teach yourself. The work required to learn an instrument doesn't come from 30 to 60 minutes of lessons from a professional, it comes from the intensity of focus you spend playing the guitar throughout your time outside of lessons.

We will start with the end in mind; what is your goal? What music or songs do you want to learn? Then, together we will build a lesson plan to accomplish that goal. Throughout the lesson plan, along with playing your favorite songs, we will cover several aspects of being a musician: proper technique; musical interpretation and expression; music theory, which will include understanding notes, scales, chords, harmonic progressions, and analyzing music; communication when performing with other musicians; and building habits and techniques toward effective practicing.

The great thing about this process is it establishes ...

We'll have fun with the Leonard book and Beatles songs!

If you want to get started with guitar, I'm the one you've been looking for. I'll get you started with basic theory, then I'll gradually move on to more advanced topics. I have a good background in this subject. I've actually taught this subject to a student who already had seven years experience; he didn't know how to put chords together in the right way. Guitar can be fun!